SPRMRKT kitchen + Bar: sprawling grounds and potent cuisine
Labels:
american,
cocktails,
fusion,
hidden finds,
must go,
river valley,
robertson quay,
romantic,
special occasion,
will return,
wines
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I get asked this question a lot. "Where's a good restaurant that you've eaten at recently", people trying to fleece information off you in order to avoid a disastrous dinner date later. Maybe fleece is too bold a word to use since I'm almost always willing to share. In fact, if you had asked me (nicely), where should you embark on your next romantic dinner date. I would have this one suggestion: SPRMRKT Kitchen + Bar at STPI.
Wine Fiesta 2016: [RISING ROOTS} celebrates Farm-to-Table food and Natural Wines
Labels:
festivals,
food festival,
raffles place,
wines
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Good news for all wine enthusiasts - The annual 9th Wine Fiesta Singapore is happening this weekend from 20 - 23 October 2016 at Clifford Square amidst the beautiful backdrop of Marina Bay Skyline and along the Fullerton Bay Hotel. Presented by The Straits Wine Company, this outdoor extravaganza boasts a huge tentage featuring over 350 wine labels, 70 global winemakers and more importantly, a combined vast culture of wine-making and appreciation sessions. Gracing the celebration are some of the city's most renowned chefs from Burnt Ends, Cheek by Jowl, Tin Hill Social, Meat Smith, Good Chance Popiah, Tamarind Hill and Morsels.
Every story has a beginning - this year, The Straits Wine Company is going back to their roots in a whole new exciting way. Debuting at Wine Fiesta 2016, four out of nine natural wine producers from the Basket Range region in Adelaide Hills will be features with a slew of others from New Zealand and Australia, making this year's theme 'Rising Roots' all the more poignant. "Basket Range marks a new defining moment in wine culture... a new chapter in the unique story of wine making history in Australia." Group CEO Ms Kathy Lim enthuses, adding that "enjoying wine should be a fun and more pleasurable pursuit... forget about intimidating, formal settings with conventional Western cuisine."
Fat Lulu's: For a Good Time
Labels:
brunch,
cafe,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
must go,
pancakes,
river valley,
sunday brunch,
will return
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Had Chef Sam Chabalani become a dysfunctional alcoholic after a fruitless stint at Raven, we wouldn't have the fortune of reaping the sweet burnt fruits of his labor at the new Fat Lulu's located at the now defunct Five and Dime. If you, like me are addicted to @Sammeernoog's eccentric Instagram persona, you'll be glad to know that his outlandish character spills over into his dishes. The portrayal of friendships cemented in the kitchens evident in the nosh put up and the amicable yet spontaneous service.
Brunch threads on familiar territory with a few stand out dishes that speak in a stronger tone of the kitchen's #noburnnotaste rule. But hold up, we'll get there eventually...
Man Man Unagi Restaurant by Teppei: The Search is over.
Labels:
chinatown singapore,
hidden finds,
japanese,
must go,
outram,
unagi,
will return
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Don't want to sound too melodramatic or anything, but the minute my calender sounded out an opportunity to photograph Teppei's latest concept, I jumped higher than an alley cat who just had a bizarre looking cucumber thrown his way. Yes, Man Man is Chef Teppei Yamashita's 5th concept after the reveal of several other stellar ventures including Hanare, Teppei Syokudo and Hana Hana. He lets out a bemused laughter when questioned about plans for another concept, in it embodying a undisclosed confidence as though he something up his sleeves. For you curious cats, you'll just have to wait and see.
But for now, there's Man Man Unagi Restaurant which puts to rest, the endless search for delicious yet affordable unagi dons. I assure, from the secret marinade to the freshly grated wasabi and use of binchotan; Chef Teppei Yamashita has got everything down pat. And it shows immaculately in the dishes.
Open Door Policy: 100% Gluten and Dairy-free joint is a treasure trove of surprises
Labels:
allergies,
dairy free,
desserts,
gluten free,
hidden finds,
must go,
pasta,
special occasion,
tiong bahru
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From the get go, Open Door Policy's (or more fondly known as ODP) new 100% gluten free and dairy free menu offerings were a bit of a turn-off. If it hadn't been for the promise of uncompromised quality in comfort dishes such as pasta draped in bechamel (Wait.. what? How?) and sustainable dining by means of vertical farming, I wouldn't have been caught dead wondering in a hipster yogi joint.
Chef Ryan Clift pulls of the new menu with the same razzle dazzle of a magician. Building climaxes of expectations with words such as grilled bread, and maccheroni pasta and finally being greeted by thunderous applause when the rabbit is pulled out of the hat. Yes, executing the new concept at ODP does require a whole bag of tricks, back-breaking work and definitely can be described as a magical experience in most ways.
Dehesa: Meat-Lovers Nirvana
Labels:
beef,
hidden finds,
meatlovers,
restaurants,
special occasion,
steak,
will return
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The past F1 weekend reached fever pitch in the city with each revving and screaming of tires. Similarly, a wave of primal craving rises with each juicy, succulent offering from Dehesa - home of the complete nose to tail experience, right down to the finish line.
Chef and owner Jean-Phillippe Patruno, one of the innovative forerunners of this culinary revolution in Singapore, commits his craft to whole animal usage in his alternative cut and offal delicacies. The price of which is kept very low at only $28++ per head, with each new lunch set menu primed for a quick yet deliciously sinful experience.
Brez'n: Winding down with Bavarian food
Labels:
bavarian,
beer,
craft beers,
family friendly,
german food,
hidden finds,
large groups,
must go,
pork knuckle,
restaurants,
ribs,
river valley,
sausages,
sunday brunch,
will return
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There's nothing like a pint of ice-cold Hefe Weissbier to wind down to after a back-breaking day's worth of work. Better yet, if its accompanied with good food. Enter, the new Brez'n in Valley Point which combines the two on an unprecedented scale with the menu presenting a very niche offering of Bavarian delights ranging from the vegetarian Spinatknodel Spinach dumplings ($22) to the staple twists of Baum (aka pretzels), handmade and baked in-house.
Murphy's: Not your regular Fish & Chips monger in the heartlands
Labels:
affordable,
ang mo kio,
british,
cafe,
cakes,
family friendly,
fish&chips,
hidden finds,
might return
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Murphy's follows the route of your classic cafe settings albeit caught in a past era, the kitschy paper advertisements stuck to glass walls, small little book corner constructed for book swaps tucked into the corner and unorthodox kitchen specialities yielding a stronger voice. It's a grand narration of what the joint was meant to deliver - British styled Fish & Chips with a side of Victorian charm; yet these notions have been seemingly watered down by expectations and survival instincts. Cakes, all-day-breakfast and salted egg yolk calamari occupy the menu for a more wholesome family approach.
Sen of Japan: walk the talk
Labels:
expensive,
fusion,
japanese,
large groups,
marina bay sands,
modern,
must go,
will go
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Described as a casual dining Japanese restaurant and bar with intimate settings and then further elaborated to have its menu inspired by Chef Nakano, previously of NOBU at Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas's fame; Sen of Japan hits the nail on the head. Casual? - not so much for the everyday user; but for a high-roller who have just been dealt a lucky hand at Baccarat; this my friends, is what you would call fast-food; the retracing of steps back to the table fast and furious following a quick refuel.
Sen dishes out modernist Japanese cuisine, the kitschy influence of American culture on the menu highly evident and most enjoyable (if I must say so) at most times.
Quick Picks: Katto @ One North
Labels:
affordable,
delivery,
healthy eating,
lunch,
must go,
onenorth,
poke,
quick picks,
salad,
sashimi,
will return
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Let's be honest, the thing that first drove us to Katto was the *drum roll*, craft beers. Just the mere sight of Stone Go to IPA, which the husband claims is in short supplies throughout most bottle shops, led to us venture out of our comfort zones in search of a meal.
And boy were we rewarded.
One-month old Katto in One-North Galaxis wing (just opposite the BreadYard) finally brings poke a little closer to home. To break it down, $12.90 gets you a sturdy carton of either salad/brown rice/ white rice and 2 choices of marinated fish in 70g portions each, finished with a choice of 2 sides.
Choices are aplenty here with the diverse range of marination on both tuna and salmon, including everything from the original shoyu to goma sesame to ginger shoyu and more. My picks would be the original shoyu and the CRC salmon - the latter, a short form for chicken rice chili. Here the cubes are enrobed in a spicy sesame oil laden dressing which packs quite a feisty punch. The perfect accompaniment to the hop heavy GO to IPA.
Sides aren't that exciting in the spectrum of things but provide enough color and texture to keep the party going. The mushrooms are excellently seasoned and juicy, lending the poke bowl the moisture it needs.
If you're not a fan of marinated dish, there's the new Yakitori Chicken bowl with leeks and onsen egg that sounds terribly attractive as well. One-North residents, you guys sure are fortunate to have a new haunt for poke bowls; but to the rest of us, fret not! Katto has recently joined the ranks as a Deliveroo vendor, so you can now get your healthy fix via delivery. Chew on that.
Katto
1 Fusionopolis Place
Galaxis Building
#01-21
S(138522)
Operating Hours:
Mon - Fri: 11am - 8pm
Sat: 11am - 2pm
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